4 podcasts to teach kids about history, identity, and current events

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As your child heads back to school, you may be looking for appropriate ways to bolster the education they're getting in the classroom. But how do you determine what's suitable for their grade level but also inclusive and entertaining enough that they won't be bored to tears? Try podcasts.

There are many child-friendly podcasts out there that explore topics that aren't often included in traditional curriculums. You can listen to them in the car on the way to school or sports practices, and they can spark questions around difficult topics like racism or identity — in an age-appropriate way.

Christine Elgersma, senior editor of parent education at Common Sense, which provides media resources for families and schools, can attest to this personally. Her and her 9-year-old daughter often listen to podcasts together and discuss the issues they bring up. "The nice thing about podcasts is it's often a joint activity, so often parents and kids are listening together," Elgersma said.

Mashable spoke with Elgersma to get her top recommendations for child-friendly and thought-provoking podcasts that cover a range of topics from history to politics to identity.

This modern take on fables is structured as an interconnected fiction anthology. It explores a variety of characters, identities, and experiences, including a young boy who is being bullied and a homeless military vet. Each episode sounds like a bedtime story with colorful descriptions and a multitude of characters (all voiced by the host, Morgan Givens, who in addition to being a writer and audio producer is also a voice actor). He approaches each episode in a sensitive, age-appropriate way, without downplaying serious topics.

Givens describes his podcast as "hopepunk," a term coined in 2017 by fantasy author Alexandra Rowland. Characters who embody hopepunk stand up for their convictions, support others, and work toward a kinder and more equitable world. Givens drops a big dose of hopepunk into each of his protagonists' hearts and minds.

Givens, who is black, has previously said he intended "Flyest Fables" for young black kids. But, as Elgersma said, it includes characters from all walks of life. Someone recently recommended the podcast to her, and she plans to listen to it with her daughter, though neither belong to the target audience.

"So Get Me"explores a variety of identities and stories from real people, from 11-year-old Mikaela who is transgender to Innosanto Nagara who is a children's author and activist. Each episode is empowering, encouraging listeners to embrace different identities without any apologies. Like the podcast's title states, each person featured on the episodes tells the world to accept them for who they are.

The podcast is brought to you by the music group the Alphabet Rockers, a duo who attempts to create a just world through empowering hip-hop. Their Grammy-nominated album Rise Shine#Woke was "created to interrupt racial bias" and includes song titles such as "Stand Up For You" and "I'm Proud."

One of the hosts, Kaitlin McGaw, has a graduate degree in African-American studies from Harvard. Her musical partner Tommy Shepherd, Jr. is an actor, composer, rapper, music producer, and more. The host, hip-hop dance teacher Samara Atkins, takes the listener on an engrossing and entertaining ride with McGaw, Shepherd, and the episodes' guests.

This podcast is for everyone who has ever felt excluded because of their differences and for those who are looking to learn about different identities. If you want to add social justice elements into you and your children's lives look no further than "So Get Me."

Adults aren't the only ones who feel overwhelmed by the hectic and sobering news cycle. Kids feel it too. This podcast breaks down the news in a kid-appropriate way through episodes that are about five minutes long. Past episodes have explored topics from climate change to sports to the presidential debates. Though it focuses heavily on American news, it sometimes covers global news.

Each episode also ends with a quiz designed to test children's retention of the information provided.

"It's a nice entry point if you're trying to discuss what's happening in the world, without exposing your kids to some of the tougher topics in a way that might be traumatizing or not kid-appropriate," Elgersma said.

If you want your child to be informed about the news but not overwhelmed, try this podcast.

This podcast is a quirky and fun take on often-concealed pieces of history, Past episodes have delved into the story of the little-known prairie dog that accompanied Lewis and Clark, Emily Roebling who unexpectedly became the Brooklyn Bridge's chief engineer, and the history of the hot dog.

Some episodes also tell the stories of women who have taken a backseat in history books, such as 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell, one of the first female pitchers in professional baseball history who struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. (Though some people believe it was a publicity stunt, which the episode acknowledges.)

To bring the story alive, historical figures are sometimes voiced by guests who really take their voice acting seriously.

Like "KidNuz," the podcast's host and professional museum educator Mick Sullivan intersperses quizzes throughout some episodes to ensure kids are paying attention.

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